diff --git a/assets/config.json b/assets/config.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e49536f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/config.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{
+  "sounds": {
+    "ui_click": "assets/sounds/ui_click.ogg",
+    "ui_hover": "assets/sounds/ui_hover.ogg",
+    "blank": "assets/sounds/blank.ogg"
+  },
+  "sprites": {
+    "textures_test":
+    {"path": "assets/textures_test.png",
+      "frame_width": 53,
+      "frame_height": 34
+    }
+  },
+  "graphics": {
+    "smooth_textures": false
+  }
+}
diff --git a/assets/shaders.json b/assets/shaders.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a03ad7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/shaders.json
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{
+  "ui_shader": {
+    "file_name": "assets/shaders/ui_shader.frag",
+    "type": "fragment"
+  },
+  "ERROR": {
+    "file_name": "assets/shaders/ui_error.frag",
+    "type": "fragment"
+  },
+  "rayview_sprites": {
+    "file_name": "assets/shaders/rayview_sprites.frag",
+    "type": "fragment"
+  },
+  "flame": {
+    "file_name": "assets/shaders/flame_trash.frag",
+    "type": "fragment"
+  },
+  "lightning": {
+    "file_name": "assets/shaders/lightning_attack.frag",
+    "type": "fragment"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/assets/shaders/ui_error.frag b/assets/shaders/ui_error.frag
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29ccc8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/shaders/ui_error.frag
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+uniform vec2 u_resolution;
+uniform vec2 u_mouse;
+uniform float u_duration;
+uniform float u_time;
+uniform float u_time_end;
+uniform sampler2D texture;
+uniform bool is_shape;
+
+void main() {
+  if(is_shape) {
+    vec4 color = vec4(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
+    gl_FragColor = gl_Color * color;
+  } else {
+    vec4 pixel = texture2D(texture, gl_TexCoord[0].xy);
+    vec4 color = vec4(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
+    gl_FragColor = gl_Color * color * pixel;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/assets/shaders/ui_shader.frag b/assets/shaders/ui_shader.frag
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73b77b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/shaders/ui_shader.frag
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+uniform vec2 u_resolution;
+uniform vec2 u_mouse;
+uniform float u_duration;
+uniform float u_time;
+uniform float u_time_end;
+uniform sampler2D texture;
+uniform bool is_shape;
+uniform bool hover;
+
+vec4 blink() {
+  if(hover) {
+    return vec4(0.95, 0.95, 1.0, 1.0);
+  } else {
+    float tick = (u_time_end - u_time) / u_duration;
+    float blink = mix(0.5, 1.0, tick);
+    return vec4(blink, blink, blink, 1.0);
+  }
+}
+
+void main() {
+  vec4 color = blink();
+
+  if(!is_shape) {
+    vec4 pixel = texture2D(texture, gl_TexCoord[0].xy);
+    color *= pixel;
+  }
+
+  gl_FragColor = gl_Color * color;
+}
diff --git a/assets/shaders/ui_shape_shader.frag b/assets/shaders/ui_shape_shader.frag
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c16d6ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/shaders/ui_shape_shader.frag
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+uniform vec2 u_resolution;
+uniform vec2 u_mouse;
+uniform float u_duration;
+uniform float u_time;
+uniform float u_time_end;
+
+void main() {
+  float tick = (u_time_end - u_time) / u_duration;
+  float blink = smoothstep(1.0, 0.5, tick);
+  vec4 color = vec4(blink, blink, blink, 1.0);
+  gl_FragColor = gl_Color * color;
+}
diff --git a/assets/sounds/blank.ogg b/assets/sounds/blank.ogg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3322d4b
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/sounds/blank.ogg differ
diff --git a/assets/sounds/ui_click.ogg b/assets/sounds/ui_click.ogg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ff2e8c
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/sounds/ui_click.ogg differ
diff --git a/assets/sounds/ui_hover.ogg b/assets/sounds/ui_hover.ogg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be6e679
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/sounds/ui_hover.ogg differ
diff --git a/assets/text.otf b/assets/text.otf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3094772
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/text.otf differ
diff --git a/assets/textures_test.png b/assets/textures_test.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ffb41e
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/textures_test.png differ
diff --git a/color.hpp b/color.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7815893
--- /dev/null
+++ b/color.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <SFML/Graphics/Color.hpp>
+
+namespace ColorValue {
+  constexpr const sf::Color BLACK{0, 0, 0};
+  constexpr const sf::Color DARK_DARK{10, 10, 10};
+  constexpr const sf::Color DARK_MID{30, 30, 30};
+  constexpr const sf::Color DARK_LIGHT{60, 60, 60};
+  constexpr const sf::Color MID{100, 100, 100};
+  constexpr const sf::Color LIGHT_DARK{150, 150, 150};
+  constexpr const sf::Color LIGHT_MID{200, 200, 200};
+  constexpr const sf::Color LIGHT_LIGHT{230, 230, 230};
+  constexpr const sf::Color WHITE{255, 255, 255};
+  constexpr const sf::Color TRANSPARENT = sf::Color::Transparent;
+}
diff --git a/config.cpp b/config.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea3ef62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#include "config.hpp"
+#include "dbc.hpp"
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+
+using nlohmann::json;
+using fmt::format;
+
+Config::Config(const std::string src_path) : $src_path(src_path) {
+  std::ifstream infile($src_path);
+  $config = json::parse(infile);
+}
+
+json &Config::operator[](const std::string &key) {
+  dbc::check($config.contains(key), fmt::format("ERROR in config, key {} doesn't exist.", key));
+  return $config[key];
+}
+
+std::wstring Config::wstring(const std::string main_key, const std::string sub_key) {
+  dbc::check($config.contains(main_key), fmt::format("ERROR wstring main/key in config, main_key {} doesn't exist.", main_key));
+  dbc::check($config[main_key].contains(sub_key), fmt::format("ERROR wstring in config, main_key/key {}/{} doesn't exist.", main_key, sub_key));
+
+  const std::string& str_val = $config[main_key][sub_key];
+  std::wstring_convert<std::codecvt_utf8_utf16<wchar_t>> $converter;
+  return $converter.from_bytes(str_val);
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> Config::keys() {
+  std::vector<std::string> the_fucking_keys;
+
+  for(auto& [key, value] : $config.items()) {
+    the_fucking_keys.push_back(key);
+  }
+
+  return the_fucking_keys;
+}
diff --git a/config.hpp b/config.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52bf664
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <codecvt>
+
+struct Config {
+  nlohmann::json $config;
+  std::string $src_path;
+
+  Config(const std::string src_path);
+
+  Config(nlohmann::json config, std::string src_path)
+    : $config(config), $src_path(src_path) {}
+
+  nlohmann::json &operator[](const std::string &key);
+  nlohmann::json &json() { return $config; };
+  std::wstring wstring(const std::string main_key, const std::string sub_key);
+  std::vector<std::string> keys();
+};
diff --git a/constants.hpp b/constants.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5372164
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constants.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <string>
+#include <array>
+
+constexpr const int TEXTURE_WIDTH=256;
+constexpr const int TEXTURE_HEIGHT=256;
+constexpr const int SCREEN_WIDTH=1280;
+constexpr const int SCREEN_HEIGHT=720;
+
+constexpr const bool VSYNC=false;
+constexpr const int FRAME_LIMIT=60;
+constexpr const int NUM_SPRITES=1;
+constexpr const int MAX_LOG_MESSAGES=17;
+
+#ifdef NDEBUG
+constexpr const bool DEBUG_BUILD=false;
+#else
+constexpr const bool DEBUG_BUILD=true;
+#endif
diff --git a/shaders.cpp b/shaders.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dbc161f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shaders.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+#include "shaders.hpp"
+#include <SFML/Graphics/Image.hpp>
+#include "dbc.hpp"
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include "config.hpp"
+#include "constants.hpp"
+#include <memory>
+
+namespace shaders {
+  using std::shared_ptr, std::make_shared;
+
+  static ShaderManager SMGR;
+  static bool INITIALIZED = false;
+  static int VERSION = 0;
+
+  inline void configure_shader_defaults(std::shared_ptr<sf::Shader> ptr) {
+    ptr->setUniform("source", sf::Shader::CurrentTexture);
+  }
+
+  bool load_shader(std::string name, nlohmann::json& settings) {
+    std::string file_name = settings["file_name"];
+    auto ptr = std::make_shared<sf::Shader>();
+    bool good = ptr->loadFromFile(file_name, sf::Shader::Type::Fragment);
+
+    if(good) {
+      configure_shader_defaults(ptr);
+      SMGR.shaders.try_emplace(name, name, file_name, ptr);
+    }
+    return good;
+  }
+
+  void init() {
+    if(!INITIALIZED) {
+      dbc::check(sf::Shader::isAvailable(), "no shaders?!");
+      INITIALIZED = true;
+      Config config("assets/shaders.json");
+      bool good = load_shader("ERROR", config["ERROR"]);
+      dbc::check(good, "Failed to load ERROR shader. Look in assets/shaders.json");
+
+      for(auto& [name, settings] : config.json().items()) {
+        if(name == "ERROR") continue;
+
+        dbc::check(!SMGR.shaders.contains(name),
+            fmt::format("shader name '{}' duplicated in assets/shaders.json", name));
+        good = load_shader(name, settings);
+
+        if(!good) {
+          dbc::log(fmt::format("failed to load shader {}", name));
+          SMGR.shaders.insert_or_assign(name, SMGR.shaders.at("ERROR"));
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  std::shared_ptr<sf::Shader> get(const std::string& name) {
+    dbc::check(INITIALIZED, "you forgot to shaders::init()");
+    dbc::check(SMGR.shaders.contains(name),
+        fmt::format("shader name '{}' not in assets/shaders.json", name));
+    auto& rec = SMGR.shaders.at(name);
+    return rec.ptr;
+  }
+
+  int reload() {
+    VERSION++;
+    INITIALIZED = false;
+    SMGR.shaders.clear();
+    init();
+    return VERSION;
+  }
+
+  bool updated(int my_version) {
+    return my_version != VERSION;
+  }
+
+  int version() {
+    return VERSION;
+  }
+};
diff --git a/shaders.hpp b/shaders.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..33791d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shaders.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <vector>
+#include <string>
+#include <SFML/Graphics.hpp>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <memory>
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+namespace shaders {
+  struct Record {
+    std::string name;
+    std::string file_name;
+    std::shared_ptr<sf::Shader> ptr = nullptr;
+  };
+
+  struct ShaderManager {
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, Record> shaders;
+  };
+
+  std::shared_ptr<sf::Shader> get(const std::string& name);
+  void init();
+  bool load_shader(std::string& name, nlohmann::json& settings);
+  bool updated(int my_version);
+  int reload();
+  int version();
+}
diff --git a/sound.cpp b/sound.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf8c48a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sound.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#include "sound.hpp"
+#include "dbc.hpp"
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include "config.hpp"
+
+namespace sound {
+  static SoundManager SMGR;
+  static bool initialized = false;
+  static bool muted = false;
+
+  using namespace fmt;
+  using std::make_shared;
+  namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+
+  SoundPair& get_sound_pair(const std::string& name) {
+    dbc::check(initialized, "You need to call sound::init() first");
+
+    if(SMGR.sounds.contains(name)) {
+      // get the sound from the sound map
+      return SMGR.sounds.at(name);
+    } else {
+      dbc::log(fmt::format("Attempted to stop {} sound but not available.",
+            name));
+      return SMGR.sounds.at("blank");
+    }
+  }
+
+
+  void init() {
+    if(!initialized) {
+      Config assets("assets/config.json");
+
+      for(auto& el : assets["sounds"].items()) {
+        load(el.key(), el.value());
+      }
+      initialized = true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  void load(const std::string& name, const std::string& sound_path) {
+    dbc::check(fs::exists(sound_path), fmt::format("sound file {} does not exist", sound_path));
+
+    // create the buffer and keep in the buffer map
+    auto buffer = make_shared<sf::SoundBuffer>(sound_path);
+
+    // set it on the sound and keep in the sound map
+    auto sound = make_shared<sf::Sound>(*buffer);
+    sound->setRelativeToListener(false);
+    sound->setPosition({0.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f});
+
+    SMGR.sounds.try_emplace(name, buffer, sound);
+  }
+
+  void play(const std::string& name, bool loop) {
+    if(muted) return;
+    auto& pair = get_sound_pair(name);
+    pair.sound->setLooping(loop);
+    // play it
+    pair.sound->play();
+  }
+
+  void stop(const std::string& name) {
+    auto& pair = get_sound_pair(name);
+    pair.sound->stop();
+  }
+
+  bool playing(const std::string& name) {
+    auto& pair = get_sound_pair(name);
+    auto status = pair.sound->getStatus();
+    return status == sf::SoundSource::Status::Playing;
+  }
+
+  void play_at(const std::string& name, float x, float y, float z) {
+    auto& pair = get_sound_pair(name);
+    pair.sound->setPosition({x, y, z});
+    pair.sound->play();
+  }
+
+  void mute(bool setting) {
+    muted = setting;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/sound.hpp b/sound.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3dc21cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sound.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <string>
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <memory>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <SFML/Audio.hpp>
+
+namespace sound {
+  struct SoundPair {
+    std::shared_ptr<sf::SoundBuffer> buffer;
+    std::shared_ptr<sf::Sound> sound;
+  };
+
+  struct SoundManager {
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, SoundPair> sounds;
+  };
+
+  void init();
+  void load(const std::string& name, const std::string& path);
+  void play(const std::string& name, bool loop=false);
+  void play_at(const std::string& name, float x, float y, float z);
+  void stop(const std::string& name);
+  void mute(bool setting);
+  bool playing(const std::string& name);
+  SoundPair& get_sound_pair(const std::string& name);
+}
diff --git a/tests/dbc.cpp b/tests/dbc.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c7263d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/dbc.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
+#include "dbc.hpp"
+
+using namespace dbc;
+
+TEST_CASE("basic feature tests", "[dbc]") {
+  log("Logging a message.");
+
+  pre("confirm positive cases work", 1 == 1);
+
+  pre("confirm positive lambda", [&]{ return 1 == 1;});
+
+  post("confirm positive post", 1 == 1);
+
+  post("confirm postitive post with lamdba", [&]{ return 1 == 1;});
+
+  check(1 == 1, "one equals 1");
+}
diff --git a/tests/shaders.cpp b/tests/shaders.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b210ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/shaders.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <string>
+#include "shaders.hpp"
+
+using namespace fmt;
+
+TEST_CASE("shader loading/init works", "[shaders]") {
+  shaders::init();
+  int version = shaders::version();
+
+  std::shared_ptr<sf::Shader> ui_shader = shaders::get("ui_shader");
+  auto other_test = shaders::get("ui_shader");
+
+  REQUIRE(ui_shader != nullptr);
+  REQUIRE(ui_shader == other_test);
+  REQUIRE(shaders::updated(version) == false);
+
+  int new_version = shaders::reload();
+  REQUIRE(version != shaders::version());
+  REQUIRE(version != new_version);
+  REQUIRE(shaders::version() == new_version);
+  REQUIRE(shaders::updated(version) == true);
+  version = new_version;
+
+}
diff --git a/tests/sound.cpp b/tests/sound.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..968e650
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sound.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <string>
+#include "sound.hpp"
+
+using namespace fmt;
+
+TEST_CASE("test sound manager", "[sound]") {
+  sound::init();
+
+  sound::play("blank");
+
+  sound::play_at("blank", 0.1, 0.1, 0.1);
+}
diff --git a/tests/textures.cpp b/tests/textures.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..910bda8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/textures.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <string>
+#include "textures.hpp"
+
+using namespace fmt;
+
+TEST_CASE("test texture management", "[textures]") {
+  textures::init();
+  auto spider = textures::get("textures_test");
+  REQUIRE(spider.sprite != nullptr);
+  REQUIRE(spider.texture != nullptr);
+
+  auto image = textures::load_image("assets/textures_test.png");
+}
diff --git a/textures.cpp b/textures.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ee1ded
--- /dev/null
+++ b/textures.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#include "textures.hpp"
+#include <SFML/Graphics/Image.hpp>
+#include "dbc.hpp"
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include "config.hpp"
+#include "constants.hpp"
+#include <memory>
+
+namespace textures {
+  using std::shared_ptr, std::make_shared;
+
+  static TextureManager TMGR;
+  static bool initialized = false;
+
+  void load_sprites() {
+    Config assets("assets/config.json");
+
+    for(auto& [name, settings] : assets["sprites"].items()) {
+      auto texture = make_shared<sf::Texture>(settings["path"]);
+
+      texture->setSmooth(assets["graphics"]["smooth_textures"]);
+      auto sprite = make_shared<sf::Sprite>(*texture);
+
+      int width = settings["frame_width"];
+      int height = settings["frame_height"];
+      sprite->setTextureRect({{0,0}, {width, height}});
+
+      TMGR.sprite_textures.try_emplace(name, sprite, texture);
+    }
+  }
+
+  void init() {
+    if(!initialized) {
+      load_sprites();
+      initialized = true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  SpriteTexture get(const std::string& name) {
+    dbc::check(initialized, "you forgot to call textures::init()");
+    dbc::check(TMGR.sprite_textures.contains(name),
+        fmt::format("!!!!! texture pack does not contain {} sprite", name));
+
+    auto result = TMGR.sprite_textures.at(name);
+
+    dbc::check(result.sprite != nullptr,
+        fmt::format("bad sprite from textures::get named {}", name));
+    dbc::check(result.texture != nullptr,
+        fmt::format("bad texture from textures::get named {}", name));
+
+    return result;
+  }
+
+  sf::Image load_image(const std::string& filename) {
+    sf::Image texture;
+    bool good = texture.loadFromFile(filename);
+    dbc::check(good, fmt::format("failed to load {}", filename));
+    return texture;
+  }
+};
diff --git a/textures.hpp b/textures.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7be99f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/textures.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <vector>
+#include <string>
+#include <SFML/Graphics.hpp>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <memory>
+
+namespace textures {
+
+  struct SpriteTexture {
+    std::shared_ptr<sf::Sprite> sprite = nullptr;
+    std::shared_ptr<sf::Texture> texture = nullptr;
+  };
+
+  struct TextureManager {
+    std::vector<sf::Image> surfaces;
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, SpriteTexture> sprite_textures;
+    std::unordered_map<wchar_t, int> char_to_texture;
+  };
+
+  void init();
+
+  SpriteTexture get(const std::string& name);
+
+  sf::Image load_image(const std::string& filename);
+}